BRAZIL
Hiparidi Top'tiro(m), Indigenous leader, and members of his family Dr Mariana
Ferreira(f), Anthropologist Anthropological and ethnological researchers working
in Sangradouro indigenous territory

Death threats have been received by Hiparidi Top'tiro, an indigenous leader
from the Sangradouro indigenous reserve in Primavera do Leste, Mato Grosso
state, his family, and Dr Mariana Ferreira, an anthropologist from the
University of Tennessee who has been working in the area. Amnesty International
is concerned for their safety, and for the safety of other researchers who have
been working with Dr Ferreira.

Both Hiparidi Top'tiro and Dr Mariana Ferreira are working for the Xavante
Wara Association in Primavera do Leste. They are working together on an
environmental project called Salve o Cerrado (Save the Sierra), that is being
developed by the Xavante Wara association in conjunction with the Brazilian
federal government and the Universities of Sao Paulo and Tennessee. The death
threats they have both received are believed to be connected to their work on
this project, and therefore other researchers working on this project may also
be in danger.

Hiparidi Top'tiro is the president of the Xavante Wara association, and a
well-known environmental campaigner. He has been the target of death threats for
some time, allegedly related both to his work on Salve o Cerrado and a legal
action that he brought against local landowners for allegedly deforesting part
of an indigenous area. According to reports, the regional administrator of the
National Indigenous Foundation (Fundacao Nacional do Indio, FUNAI) in Primavera
do Leste, who has strong links to landowners in the region, has long been
intimidating and threatening Hiparidi Top'tiro and his family. Although they
have reported this behaviour to the national FUNAI Directive on several
occasions, no action has been taken to address it.

Dr Mariana Ferreira works as a consultant to the Xavante Wara and makes
regular visits to Primavera do Leste. In June she spent 16 days there, carrying
out research. The regional FUNAI administrator told Dr Mariana Ferreira and her
team, on numerous occasions during this period that Hiparidi Top'tiro and
members of his family were in grave danger. Dr Ferreira has also received what
appear to be veiled death threats, or even attempts on her life. While driving
in Sangradouro in June, a car tried to force her off the road. On another
occasion the car she was travelling in nearly crashed into a boulder that had
deliberately been moved onto the road into her path.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Amnesty International is concerned that indigenous people face human rights
violations ranging from assault to massacres during disputes over land rights.
The organization believes that the authorities' failure to arbitrate promptly in
disputes between the indigenous and non- indigenous community leaves indigenous
groups vulnerable to attack.

Although the 1988 Constitution required all indigenous lands in Brazil to be
demarcated by 1993, only half of the 555 identified territories have been
demarcated so far. In January 1996, this process was slowed down further by
Decree 1775/96, which introduced complicated procedures by which non-indigenous
claimants can challenge the demarcation of indigenous areas.

expressing serious concern for the safety of Hiparidi Top'tiro, his
family, Dr Mariana Ferreira and other anthropological and ethnological
researchers working in Sangradouro indigenous reserve;

asking the authorities to investigate the threats they have received and
to bring those responsible to justice;

calling on the authorities to provide federal protection, as deemed
appropriate by those under threat, to guarantee their safety;

expressing your concern that consistent reports of threatening behaviour
by the regional administrator of the FUNAI in Primavera do Leste have not
been investigated;

should these reports be verified, calling on the authorities to implement
all appropriate disciplinary and legal sanctions to address threatening
behaviour by the regional administrator of the FUNAI in Primavera do Leste.

Concerns over the safety of Hiparidi Top'tiro, a Xavante man from the
Sangradouro Reserve in Mato Grosso, his family and anthropologist Dr. Mariana
Ferreira have recently come to my attention.

I write to request that threats against them be investigated immediately and
that, should they be substantiated, those responsible be brought to justice. I
am concerned that persistent reports of threatening behavior made by the FUNAI
regional administrator in Primavera do Leste, MT have not been investigated.

Should these reports be verified, I urge you and other authorities to
implement all appropriate disciplinary and legal sanctions to the FUNAI regional
administrator and other involved parties.

I request that federal authorities provide protection for Mr. Top'tiro, the
members of his family, and for Dr. Ferreira and the members of her research team
until this situation has been investigated and the situation is resolved.